Southwest and LOT Polish Airlines Launch Single-Ticket...

Bridging domestic American heartlands with Central and Eastern Europe on a single booking confirmation, Southwest Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines have forged an interline partnership linking flights through Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco directly to Warsaw.

The Local Trend: Point-to-Point Giant Embraces Global Interline Connectivity

Southwest Airlines is continuing its strategic business transformation, evolving from a standalone point-to-point domestic operator into a globally connected carrier. Following the introduction of assigned seating and extra-legroom cabins earlier this year, Southwest has entered into a single-ticket interline partnership with Star Alliance member LOT Polish Airlines.

Under this transatlantic cooperation, travelers can book integrated itineraries combining Southwest’s domestic US network with LOT Polish Airlines' long-haul flights across the Atlantic. Rather than managing fragmented, independent ticket purchases and assuming missed-connection risks, passengers receive coordinated through-check baggage handling and protected flight connections across three shared American gateways: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Southwest and LOT Polish Airlines Transatlantic Route Architecture

Joint Gateway Hub	Strategic US Geographic Role	Primary Transatlantic Connection	Operating Equipment
Los Angeles (LAX)	Western US & Pacific connector	Non-stop connection to Warsaw (WAW)	Boeing 787 Dreamliner / 737 Fleet
Miami (MIA)	Florida & Southeastern feeder	Non-stop connection to Warsaw (WAW)	Boeing 787 Dreamliner / 737 Fleet
San Francisco (SFO)	Northern California & Silicon Valley	Non-stop connection to Warsaw (WAW)	Boeing 787 Dreamliner / 737 Fleet
Warsaw Chopin (WAW)	Primary European hub gateway	Onward connections to Central/Eastern Europe	Embraer / Boeing 737 / 787

Connecting the American Heartland to Central Europe via Warsaw

At the European heart of the partnership is LOT Polish Airlines’ primary hub at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). While transatlantic traffic from North America has traditionally funneled through congested Western European megahubs like London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt, Warsaw provides a fast, streamlined transit alternative:

Expanding Access to Secondary European Destinations: From Warsaw, LOT operates an extensive network spanning Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn, giving travelers seamless access to the cultural capitals of Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic states.
Streamlining Travel for Secondary US Markets: Passengers based in cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tampa, Austin, Nashville, or Kansas City can fly Southwest to LAX, MIA, or SFO, transferring directly onto LOT's flagship Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners to Warsaw without secondary ticket baggage claims.
Reciprocal European Tourism Inflow: The agreement similarly opens the United States to Polish and European holidaymakers, allowing incoming transatlantic travelers landing in Miami or California to connect onto Southwest flights to visit regional national parks, Florida coasts, and western destinations.

Operational Advantages of Single-Ticket Itineraries

The partnership provides essential protections that differentiate it from self-connecting "hacker fares":

Protected Transfer Guarantees: Under standard interline agreements, if a domestic Southwest flight experiences weather delays or ATC holds, LOT Polish Airlines automatically rebooks the passenger onto the next available transatlantic flight at no additional penalty.
Through-Checked Baggage: Passengers check their luggage at their origin Southwest airport, with baggage automatically transferred across airlines at LAX, MIA, or SFO to their final European arrival destination.
Unified Fare Calculations: A single itinerary generates transparent fare terms, clear baggage allowances, and streamlined frequent flyer integration.

Destination Specialist Local Insider Tips

Travelers planning an international journey combining Southwest and LOT Polish Airlines can maximize their comfort and connection with these expert tips:

Select a 3-Hour Transit Buffer at LAX, MIA, and SFO: While baggage transfers automatically between Southwest and LOT Polish Airlines, changing between domestic terminals and Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT at LAX) or Concourse J (at MIA) requires passing through security; allow a comfortable 3-hour layover.
Sample Authentic Polish Pierogi at Warsaw Chopin Airport: If transiting through Warsaw Chopin Airport, visit airside bistro Polskie Smaki to sample hot pierogi ruskie (dumplings filled with potato and quark cheese) paired with traditional compote before boarding your regional flight.
Explore Warsaw’s Royal Lazienki Park on Extended Layovers: Travelers with layovers exceeding six hours can take a 20-minute taxi from Chopin Airport into central Warsaw to stroll through the peacocks and neoclassical palace gardens of Lazienki Park.
Verify Baggage Weight Allowances for Transatlantic Segments: Southwest famously offers two free checked bags domestically, while LOT Polish Airlines’ standard transatlantic economy fares typically include one checked bag up to 23 kg (50 lbs); review your ticket confirmation to avoid excess luggage charges.
Pair Flights with Poland’s Fast PKP Intercity Rail: If your final destination is Krakow, Poznan, or the Baltic port of Gdansk, consider spending a day in Warsaw before boarding PKP Pendolino express trains, which link major Polish cities in under 2.5 hours.

Future Outlook

Southwest Airlines’ alliance with LOT Polish Airlines demonstrates a modern, capital-efficient approach to global expansion. By pairing comprehensive domestic US frequency with a respected European flag carrier through strategic coastal gateways, the partnership expands traveler choice, enhances transatlantic competition, and makes Central Europe more accessible than ever before.